The new FASTag transaction changes came to stay on Monday, aiming to make road toll payments smoother and more secure.
These changes, outlined in circulars from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will impact how transactions are processed, refunds are handled, and penalties are imposed.
If you use FASTag, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on these updates to avoid unnecessary deductions or roadblocks at toll booths.
One of the key updates revolves around transaction validation. Going forward, toll transactions will be checked based on the time a vehicle's FASTag is read by the scanner and whether the tag is marked as blacklisted, low balance, or hotlisted.
If a FASTag is inactive for more than 60 minutes before reaching the toll and remains inactive up to 10 minutes after, the transaction will be declined with error code 176.
In simple terms, if your FASTag isn’t active within this time frame, it won’t work, and you’ll have to pay the toll in cash.
Another critical rule concerns blacklisted FASTags. If your FASTag is blacklisted and you still try to pass through a toll booth, you’ll be charged double the toll amount.
However, there’s a small relief – if you recharge your account within 10 minutes of the transaction, you can apply for a refund of the penalty. But that depends on how quickly your bank processes the refund request, so it’s better to keep your balance topped up rather than take a chance.
Delayed transactions are also under scrutiny. If a toll transaction is processed more than 15 minutes after your vehicle passes the scanner, additional charges may apply. It’s unclear how exactly these charges will be calculated, but it’s something FASTag users should be aware of.
Interestingly, if a toll deduction is delayed due to insufficient balance, the loss will be borne by the toll operator rather than the vehicle owner. This suggests that toll plazas might become stricter about checking FASTag balances before allowing vehicles to pass.
For those who face incorrect deductions, the rules around chargebacks have also changed. Banks can only raise chargeback requests for wrongful deductions related to blacklisted or low-balance FASTags after a 15-day cooling period.
If a request is made earlier, it will be rejected automatically with system error code 5290. This means that if you find an issue with your deduction, you’ll have to wait two weeks before taking it up with your bank.
While this might seem frustrating, it’s designed to prevent unnecessary disputes and reduce system errors.
To avoid getting caught out by these changes, it’s best to ensure your FASTag account always has sufficient balance and is not blacklisted.
Keeping an eye on transaction times could also help in spotting any unexpected delays in toll deductions.
Regularly checking your FASTag status might save you from last-minute trouble at toll booths, especially when driving on busy highways.
(By arrangement with Livemint.com)
